Vernice "Dolly" Clara Alverta Coe

About Dolly

Vernice “Dolly” Clara Alverta (Reich) Coe, 93, of Tenstrike, Minnesota peacefully died on Saturday, December 11, 2021 under hospice care at her home.

Dolly was born on April 1, 1928 in Otsego, Minnesota to Arthur and Clara (Seig) Reich. She attended school in Blackduck, where she lettered in the Glee Club. She graduated as Salutatorian from Blackduck High School in 1946, and then attended Bemidji State Teachers College, graduating in 1950.

She married Leland Coe on February 10, 1951 at Zion Lutheran Church in Blackduck. She taught school for the Kelliher School District for 3 years. During Lee’s military service they lived in San Diego, California where she worked at Consolidated Aircraft as a windscreen riveter on Conair aircraft for 2 years. Dolly and Lee lived in several communities throughout Minnesota for Lee’s work, settling in Minnetonka for 26 years before retiring in rural Tenstrike, MN.

Dolly was very active in Church and Community Organizations. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Blackduck where she served on the church council, the altar guild, and sang with the church choir. She was also a member of the Fosston Community Choir and the Bemidji State Teacher’s College Choir. Dolly was also very active in the Patchwork Pals Homemaker’s Club, the Master Gardeners Organization, and Meals on Wheels in the Minnetonka, MN area and the western suburbs.

Dolly and Lee raised honey bees for many years providing quality honey. She also enjoyed volunteering at the Blackduck Area Schools, reading to the first graders.

Dolly was an avid outdoorswoman and conservationist, who enjoyed gardening, hunting, fishing, hiking, and observing nature. Dolly and Lee were recognized for their forestry stewardship on their property.

Dolly also enjoyed sports. She was a fan of baseball and football and played softball, bowled, and bicycled. She loved to can, bake, sew, sing and dance. She liked playing board games, cards, and doing puzzles.

Dolly is survived by her loving husband of 70 years, Leland Coe; 2 daughters, Darlinda and LeAnn Coe, both of Tenstrike, MN; a son, James (Donna) Coe of Detroit, MI; 10 grandchildren, Angela Coe, Aaron Coe, Elisabeth (Corbin) Knutson Cloward, Alexis Knutson, Lee (Brittany) Coe, Patrick (Christina) Coe, Bryan (Angie) Coe, Amanda Coe, McKenna Voss, and Shaun Voss; 4 great grandchildren, Poppy, James, Theodore, and Eleanore; a sister, Harriette Wingren of Brownsville, OR; a brother-in-law Gary (Karen) Coe of St. Cloud, MN; and a sister-in-law, Ardel Reich of Moses Lake, WA; and many dearly loved nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Clara Reich; 2 sisters, Luverne (Reich) Jacobson and Evelyn (Reich) Jacobson; and a brother, Vernon Reich.

memorial service

Memorial Service for Dolly

December 18, 2021

Zion Lutheran Church 217 Main St, Blackduck, MN 56630, USA

Rev. Anne Meredith will be officiating. A visitation will be held from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Friday, December 17th with a prayer service at 6:00 PM at Cease Family Funeral Home in Blackduck and for one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church.

Funeral/Cremation Provider: Cease Family Funeral Home